by Kirby Lindsay, posted 8 June 2011
At the end of our interview, Garett Slettebak, Director of Marketing for Pro-Motion Events, pointed out that “our registrations are the highest they’ve been for the last five years,” of the 2011 Fremont Fun Run – taking place Friday evening, June 10th. It sounds like people are starting to see the fun in the Fremont Fun Run!
Certainly the Fremont 5K, run on a USATF certified course, has everything a good race needs: a fast course, an easy to access location for the start and finish (the Solstice Plaza, at approximately 741 North 34th St.) and on-site registration that opens at 4:30p. Then there are the Fun aspects of the race – the inspection of the Briefcase Relay teams starts at 5:30p, before the individual runners take off at 7p, and, afterward, the post-race celebration that takes place in the Plaza (starting at 6p – for those who feel a calling for a pre-post-celebration…)
The FUN in Fun Run
Ultimately, though, this is the Fremont Fun Run, and while being a serious race – that has attracted elite runners – it remains, quintessentially, Fremont. Over the 20 years that Pro-Motion has organized the Fun Run, Slettebak acknowledged that the race has stayed loyal to, “a quirky atmosphere that is true to Fremont.”
An aspect is the timing of the race, on a Friday evening. “There aren’t many runs that take place on a weekend evening,” admitted Slettebak, who works on dozens of runs with Pro-Motion. Held the weekend – the Friday – a week before the Fremont Fair, the Fun Run kicks-off the summer run season, as well as being a great way to start a weekend either of more exercise – or guilt-free sloth.
Of course, nothing says ‘Fremont’ like the Briefcase Relay, a relay race where teams of participants dress in costume. Traditionally, the attire is called ‘business’ from the waist up, but Slettebak acknowledged that, “the interpretation by the runners has been somewhat exaggerated.” The teams of five runners will undergo inspection, yet nearly any kind of costume will be allowed, “as long as you have a briefcase,” Slettebak insisted.
A briefcase that will serve as the baton, to pass between the runners along the route, and contain five cans of food. These cans symbolize the heart of the run – a donation carried to the finish, then donated to the Solid Ground Hunger Action Center.
The FUN in Fundraiser
In fact, all attendees can bring a donation of food – or funds – to donate to Solid Ground, as the organization will be very much on-hand and in evidence at the Fun Run. In addition to food donations, a per/participant cash donation will go to the organization, that assists 58,000 families a year in ending poverty, and started their work in one-time empty storefronts, as the Fremont Public Association.
Today, Pro-Motion Events, which took over organizing the race in 1991, produces races – and other events – all over the region. Yet, this one they’ve kept fundamentally Fremont. They incorporated green initiatives into the evening, and seek even more (see information on their website.) Vendor booths at the start/finish lines reflect local interests – including fruit provided by PCC Natural Markets – and the post-race celebration features some adult beverages, from Fremont Brewing Company and Clif Family Winery & Farm.
Perhaps most Fremont of all, this isn’t the trickiest or most difficult of races. Slettebak admitted that the Fremont Fun Run doesn’t boast the flattest course, as “more and more races are happening at Green Lake, which is super flat.” Still, this is a fast course.
So, come out and run (or walk) or simply dust off the costumes – and the friends – and take a ‘run’ at winning the official Briefcase Relay trophy, the Slug Cup! Enjoy an evening of healthy, green and fun exercise and entertainment to see in summer, the Solstice season and Fremont month at a fabulous fundraiser.
Registration, on-line, will remain open until midnight, Thursday, June 9th, for only $30. Register at the Solstice Plaza, for $40, starting at 4:30p on Friday, June 10th – then, runners, take your mark and have FUN!
Related Articles
- A Summer Evening’s Fun Run
- by Kirby Lindsay, June 9, 2010
- Grab Your Briefcase And Go!
- by Kirby Lindsay, June 1, 2005 for Fremont.com
- Celebrate All Things Fremont
- by Kirby Lindsay, June 1, 2005 in the North Seattle Herald-Outlook
©2011 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.